Dust container



Patented Mar. 7, 1939 l UNITED STATES PATENT `orifice DUST CONTAINER Edith L. Hill, vGovernors island, N. Y. Application Ju1y`31, 1937, serial No. 156,181

2- Claims.

Generically this invention relates to containers but itis more especially ,directed to a type of container adapted to receive and normally prevent the escape of dust therefrom.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of means adapted to form in conjunction with a bucket, Waste paper basket or like receptacle, a container in which a mop can loe shaken and the escape of dust therefrom prevented during such cleaning operation.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an auxiliary container section adapted for telescopic engagement within a waste basket, metal container or the like, adapted to adjustably increase the height of the container proper to permit the expeditious cleaning of a mop therein and prevent the escape of dust therefrom during such operation. l

A further important object of this invention is the provision of anl extensible container `section formed from a one-piece blank adapted for partial insertion within a receptacle to form a container of the desired height, adapted to maintain itself in such adjusted position with respect to the container and having a lid portion connected thereto so constructed as to permit shaking or cleaning of a mop within the container and at the same time preventing the escape of dust therefrom.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of means comprising a body portion insertible in an open top receptacle forming a continuation thereof, formed from a one-piece blank of iiexible material having secured thereto a top portion whereby when curved to substantially conform to the configuration of the container and partially insertedtherein it will expansibly maintain itself in any desired height with respect to the container, the top or lid portion being so designed as to permit the mop handle to extend therethrough and prevent the escape of dust during the cleaning operation, said top adapted for superimposed relation with the body portion, whereby the same may be conveniently suspended from a hook or the like when not in use.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as .the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described andclaimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved dust container showing the mop therein in lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank constituting 5 the extensible portion andits lid prior to its linsertion in the container, as shown in Fig. 1.

In connection with the use of dust mops in the home and even in office buildings and the like it is'necessary to frequently clean the mop by shak- 10 ing the accumulation of dust therefrom and which, in many instances, is effected with more `or less difficulty without the attendant escape of dust into the surrounding atmosphere. Especially is this true in apartments where in many l5 localities it is against municipal ordinances to shake a mop out of a window, and though it vwere permitted, it is hazardous to do so in the corridors and even in the average incinerator room, because ydust being a high explosive when sus- 20 pended in air makes it extremely dangerous, since a spark or the lighting of a match may effect a disastrous explosion and, consequently, it is important that in shaking or cleaning the mop the dust be confined and not permitted to escape 25 to the surrounding atmosphere, and therefore means for accomplishing this result forms the subject matter of the Yinstant invention., l

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a conventional con- 30 tainer A and an expansible portion B insertible therein for converting said container into the dust confining container C Without affecting the normal use of the container A for other purposes.

The body portion I of section B is formed 35 from a one-piece blank of any suitable flexible material, such as press board and the like, with curved edges 2 and 3 constituting the upper and lower edges, respectively, and with straight edges 4 and 5 extending from edge 2 inwardly in meet- 40 ing direction to edge 3. It will be observed that edge 3 is shorter than edge 2 so that when the blank I is bent to bring the edges 4 and 5 into overlapping-relation the opening at the top edge may be greaterthan at the bottom edge 3 to con- 45 form to the usual flared type of container A when inserted in the latter but which does not affect its insertion in straight walled containers or those of different configurations.

Section I is formed adjacent to upper edge 2 50 spaced from end 4 with an aperture 6 adapted to receive, in the present instance, a metallic ring 1 extending through a similar aperture 6 in lid connecting said lid to section I and forming Va hinge therefor, as will be apparent.

dotted Lid 8 is preferably circular in configuration and is formed with a bayonet slot 9 extending inwardly from the periphery thereof at a point opposite hinge 'l and adapted to receive the handle I of a mop II, as will directly more fully appear. Said lid is formed with an aperture I2 adapted to register with a similar aperture I3 formed in the end of section I when the lid is brought into superimposed relation with respect to said. section I and by means of which said section and lid may be suspended from a suitable hook or other supporting means when not in use. The lid or cover 8 is of such dimensions, shown in Fig. 1, as to compensate for variations in the diameter of portion B in accordance with different sized containers A and to normally extend beyond the rim of said portion. Said lid 8 is preferably slightly squared as at I4 to permit the expeditious closing of the lid when in use and the folding thereof with respect to section I when not in use, as will be apparent.

While the lid 8 has been shown as preferably attached to section I by a ring 'I it is to be understood that other means may be employed, such as a iiexible tape means, suitably secured to form a hinge without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

While the operation of my improved dust container would seem to be clear from the above description yet it might be well to further state that, to convert an ordinary waste basket or open top container into a dust confining container of greater height than the'original container, it is only necessary to bend section I so as to bring ends il and into overlapping relation and insert the lower end 3 the desired depth within container A, and when released the flexibility of section I will cause it to expand and frictionally engage the inner surface of the container and maintain said expansible portion in such adjusted position until manually removed therefrom. The mop may then be inserted in container B with handle I 0 extending from slot 9, so that shaking of the mop may be easily effected and the container with its contents removed from the room without permitting the escape of dust into the surrounding atmosphere with its attendant hazard. When the contents have been emptied the container section B may be removed from section A, whereupon the lid 9 is folded against section I bringing aperture I2 into registration with aperture I3 to receive a suitable hook or other means by which the device can be supported flat against the wall or suspended from said hook until it is necessary to again use it, as in the rst instance.

From the above it is apparent that I have designed an adjustable auxiliary container section adapted for insertion into an ordinary container, whereby the latter is formed into a dust confining container permitting the removal of dust from a mop Within the container without permitting its escape to the surrounding atmosphere; one simple in construction, formed from a minimum of material, manufacturable at a negligible cost, adapted for repeated use, and yet eilicient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most eiiicient and practical; yetV realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of'construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. The combination with a bucket-like container, of an expansible section insertible in said container forming a continuation thereof and having closure means so designed as to permit shaking of a mop within the container and preventing the escape of dust therefrom.

2. A dust confining container comprising in combination a bucket-like container, a portion formed from a one-piece blank of flexible material telescopically and expansibly engageable in said bucket, constituting a continuation thereof, and closure means carried by said portion adapted to permit a mop handle to extend therethrough, whereby the escape of dust during shaking of the mop within the container is prevented.

EDITH L. HILL. 

